weaver



(No Model.) a Sheets-sheen 1. W. WEAVER.

LOOM.

No. 589,913. Patehted Sept. 14,1897.

(N0 Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. WEAVER. LO0M. No. 589,913. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

l) o 16' I: g 17 1 \2 glwua'wboz any suitable character.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVIIJLIAM WEAVER, OF NORIVALI, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE "WEAVERJACQUARD AND ELECTRIC SHUTTLE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOOM.

SPECIFICATION forming n of Letters Patent no. 589,913, datedseptember'll, 1897.

Application filed June 23, 1896.

To all whom it 17mg concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM -VVEAVER,-a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looms,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in looms;and it has for its objects to automatically shift an old shuttle out ofoperative position when a Weftthread breaks or becomes exhausted andsimultaneously replacing it by a new one without necessitating stoppingthe loom to effect such change; and with these objects in view theinvention consists in the novel combination, construction, andarrangement of the parts hereinafter more particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure1 is a side elevation of the invention, parts being broken away and insection. Fig. 2 is a plan view; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of oneend of the lathe, the shuttle-boxes, and their operating devices.

The loom in its general features may be of As shown, my improvement isintended for application to that class of looms in which two superposedshuttle-boxes are arranged at each end of the lathe, either forsimultaneously throwing two shuttles in the same or in oppositedirections through a double shed or for throwing a single shuttle acrossthe warp at each forward movement of each picker. As shown, theconstruction is adapted for use when there is a double warp, so thatshould either shuttie-thread break or become exhausted in stead of theloom ceasing its operation a new shuttle will be substituted for thatcarrying the broken thread or empty bobbin, the new thread being throwninto the warp at the proper time, so as to avoid any imperfection inWeaving. To this end I make use of two series of shuttle-boxes A A,mounted at each end of the lathe D in such position that the pickers a amay extend into one of the boxes of each series. I prefer to support theboxes upon the loom-frame, so that they will be sta=- tionary relativeto the lathe, but in a position Serial No. 596,618. [No nio'clel.)

to aline with the shuttle-races when the lathe is in itsrearwardposition.

In the construction shown I have illusboxes are equidistantly spaced,and each series is supported upon two sprocket-Wheels 2 3, journaledupon the loom-frame and pref- ;erably arranged in horizontal alinement,as shown. I One series of shuttle-boxes is ar ranged parallel with theother, and the boxes of'eachseries are formed with open ends for thepurpose presently to be described.

The arrangement, construction,and operation of the devices of one seriesof shuttleboxes are substantially identical with the other, and to avoidcomplexity and confusion the same reference letters and figures areapplied to the corresponding parts of the operating devices of bothseries of shuttle-boxes.

It will be apparent that if the boxes of the two series A and A aresupplied with shuttles carrying the same kind of thread,andif upon thebreaking of the thread of either of the shutties in operation the box ofsuch shuttleis autom atioally shifted out of line with the picker, as tobring the next box into position, the weaving may be carried onwithout'the loss of time incident to arresting the operation of theloom. I therefore combine with each series of shuttle-boxes, or with oneseries of boxes when'two are not required, automatic mechanism forshifting the series in event of the breaking or exhaustion of thethread.

Any suitable automatically-operated devices maybe employed for shiftingthe shuttle-boxes, and I have shown a simple and well-known means foreffecting this result.

This means consists of two superposed slides B B, supported and adaptedto reciprocate in guides 4 4. 011 the breast-beam of the loom. Each ofthe slides is provided with a pivoted weft-fork 5, having a hooked end(3. The weft-fork 5 is in alinelnent with two or more stop-fingers 7,carried upon the lathe adjacent to the side of the reed, and the fingersof said fork are adapted to pass between said stopfingers.

A cam or tappet 8, carried upon a shaft 9, is arranged to act upon oneend of an angular lever 10, the other end of the lever being providedwith projections 12, arranged to engage the hooked ends (5 (3 of theweft-forks to move their slide-bars when the said hooked ends are notelevated.

It Will be understood that so long as the weft-thread is not broken andlies in the shuttle-race it comes into contact with the weftfork 5 ateach beat of the lathe and turns it on its pivot, thereby elevating thehooked end 6 out of the Way of the projection 12, but When the thread isbroken or absent the Weftfork is not turned, and consequently its hookedend remains in the path of movement of the projection 12 of the lever10, which engages it and moves'the slide in its guide.

Each slide B B bears at its rear end upon one end of a centrally-pivotedlever 14, which is in turn connected at its opposite end to a rod 15.This rod extends rearwardlyin close proximity to the shuttle-boxes andcarries a pawl 10, which engages a ratchet-Wheel 17 upon the shaft ofthe sprocket-wheel 2.

It Will be apparent from the above that if one of the slides B B isopera-ted its lever 14 and rod. 15 are reciprocated and the pawl 16caused to, rotate the sprocket-wheel 2 to bring a new shuttle-box intoposition.

As will be apparent, both slides 13 B are operated by the lever 10, andsaid slides may be operated simultaneously or independently, depending,of course, upon the positions of the hooked ends of the weft-fingers.

The pickers a are formed L-shapedin order that their arms may enter therear end of the shuttle-boxes, and they are supported and operated inthe usual manner and by any of the usual mechanism.

hat I claim is 1. In a loom, the combination of a continuous series ofshuttle-boxes,a supporting-Wheel therefor,a ratchet-Wheel connected tothe supporting-Wheel, a slide, weft-fingers pivotally supported upon theslide and adapted to cooperate With stop-fingers upon the lathe, a rodcarrying a pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet-wheel, connectionswhereby said rod is reciprocated from the slide, and means for actuatingthe slide upon the breaking or exhaustion of a shuttle-thread,substantially as described.

2. In a loom, the combination of twoseries of shuttles and theirsupporting means, a slide for each of said seriesof shuttles,Weftfingers pivotally supported upon the slides adapted to cooperateWith stop-fingers upon the lathe, devices intermediatethe slidesandshuttles for shifting the latter, and a lever common to both slidesforactuating them independently or simultaneously, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I- have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' lVILLlAllsl \VEAVER. Witnesses J. E. HOPKINS, PAUL W. STEVENS.

